Galvanizing machine



June 17 1924. 1,498,290

H. D. PENNINGTON GALVANIZING MACHINE Filed March 9 1923 v 6 Sheets-Sheet1 June 27 1924. 1,498,290

H. D. PENNINGTON GALVANIZI'VNG MACHINE Filed March 9. 1923 6sheets-sheet 2 June 17, 1924. 1,498,290

, H. D. PENNINGTON GALVANIZ ING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1923 6Sheets-Sheetfi June 17, 1924. 1,498,290

IH.D.PENNHNGTON GALVANI Z ING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1923 Sheets$heet 4INVENTOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jil n-ii- Ll-And H. D. PENNINGTON GALVANIZINGMACHINE Filed March ,9.

June 17, 1924.

W MK; 7726 June I7 -I9Z4.

' H.D.PENNHNGTON GALVANIZING MACHINE Filed March 9 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 6Mvm HARLEY D. PENNINGTbN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNUR TOUNITED ENGINEERING AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, YENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

eatvamzme M15101 ;r s

I Application filed March 9, 1928. Serial No. 623,947.

and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inGalvanizing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The present invention relates to the act of coating sheet material, andmore particularly to an improved galvanizing machine, the presentapplication being a continuation in part of my copendingapplication'Serial No.

' 530,505, filed January 20, 1922.

in a galvanizing machine, it is necessary, at frequent intervals, toraise the supporting frame in order to lift the parts carried therebyout of the vat for cleaning. it has he 'etofore been the practice tomount the in tor and the driving connections intermediatethe motor andgearing on the various rolls on a sliding base adapted to be movedtowards and away from the rolls by means of a screw. With thisarrangement, whenever it was desired to raise the frame, it wasnecessary to back oil the motor and driving connections by means of thescrew. This was not only a laborious operation, but one which requiredconsiderable time. Nowin a ma- 3 chine of this character, itis-desi'rable to be able to disconnect the driving means from the rollsquickly, in order to enable raising of the frame. and separation of therolls and other parts therefrom for cleaning before the hot coatingmaterial has had time, to

cool and harden on the parts. An important object of the presentinvention, therefore, is to provide a machine wherein the driving meanscan be quickly disconnected from the 40 rolls without the necessity forbacking 0d the motor. a

It has also heretofore been the practice to mount the intakerollsdirectly over the flux box. A serious objection to this arrangement 4 isthat the flux splashes up on to the periph- 'through the pot sticks inthe quently, another object of the invention is to provide an arranement of flux box and intake rolls wherein this objection is overcome.

It has further been the practice heretofore to drive one of the exitrolls through the other by means of a gear-mounted on one end of one ofsaid rolls meshing with the gear on the correspondin end of the otherroll, said gears being of so stantially the same diameter as the rolls.Now the exit rolls, due to wear and frequent dressings, become graduallysmaller and smaller in diameter, and, as their diameters become less,they must be moved relatively towards each other, but where the rollsare directly geared together in this manner, they cannot be movedtowards each other, exceptto a very limited extent, and, hence, itisnecessary to chan e the gears on the rolls at frequent interva s, orto replace the rolls frequently, Either rocedure involves great loss oftime and arge expense. A- further object of thepresent invention is,therefore, to provide an arrangement for driving the, exit rolls whichpermits the rolls to move towards each other without the necessity ofchanging the gears during the life of the rolls.

ltsometimes happens that a sheet passing ides. In such cases, if anothersheet is to in behind this sheet, damage to the machine, as well as tothe sheets, is likely to occur. Still another object of the presentinvention is to provide means whereby a workman can instantaneouslydisconnect the driving connecthe intermediate or bottom rolls may beswung awa from said rolls to facilitate re-' moval of tie latter, andwhereby the said worm may be worm shaft.

A'preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which: v

Figure l is a plan view of the machine,

quickly removed from said 55 by a weighted lever 17 pivoted to t tionalview of the machine,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line III-71H ofFigure 1, and lookin in the direction of the arrows;

igure 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly inelevation, illustratingythe means for driving the intermediate or ottomrolls, i

I Fi' re 5 is a view taken on the line VV of F igure 4,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Figure1, and lookin in the direction. of the arrows,

i re 7 is a sectional view taken on the line FTP-VII of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a view similar'to Figure 7 illustrating the manner in whichthe exit rolls are permitted to approach each otherv by the gearingarrangement shown,

F igure 9 is a plan view of the driving means and of the drivingconnections be- .tween the driving means'and the rolls,

Figure 10is a side elevation correspondingi to Figure 9 with the motorremoved, an

Fi ure 11 is a view takenon the line XI- I of FigurelO. Y

Referrin to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates the masonryfoundation upon which the machine is supported, and 3 the pot or vatforholding the coating bath. I Overlying the pot 3 and resting at itsends upon the foundation' 2 is a rectangular supporting frame 4comprising parallel side beams 5 and 6 and transverse hollow tie members7 and 8. The supporting frame 4 is constructed and arrangedto be whollyabove the level of the bath in order that the same may not be subjectedto the corrosive action of the coating material.

Detachably connected to the side members 5 and 6 and depending into thepot 3 are a pair of oppositely arranged U-shaped roll ousings 9'and 10for a pair of intermediate or bottom rolls 11 and 12. These rolls arejournaled at their ends in upper and lower bearing blocks 13 and 14slidably mounted in the roll housings. Resting upon the upper face ofeach upper bearing block 13 is Y a separator plate 15. Each of theseparator plates is engaged by the lower. end of a vertically slidablerod 16 suitably guided in the frame 4' and engaged at its upper end eframe at 18, the weightedlevers 17, through the rods 16, separatorplates 15 and bearing blocks 13, maintain a suitable pressure betweenthe rolls 11 and 12.

Fixed to one end of. the lower roll 12 is a worm ear 19, and fixed tothe other end of the re 1 is a ear 20 meshing with a similar gear 21 ont e end of the up or roll 11. Journaled in a bushing 22, the etterjournaled in a bracket 23 secured to the side beam 5, is a short drivenshaft 24 having fixed to its inner end a bevel gear 25 in mesh with asimilar bevel ear 26 secured to the upper-end of a vertica worm shaft27. The lower end portion 28 ofthe shaft 27 is reduced in cross sectionand slidably mounted a wedge member 33 is inserted between the flanges31 and the bearing member 32, the wedge being secured to the lower endof a rod 34. The rod 34 has a threaded upper end extending throu h anopening in the frame 4, and mounted on its threaded upper end are nuts35, by means of which the rod is moved longitudinally toadjust theposition. of the wed e 33.

Referring to igure 4, it will be seen that gears 25 and 26 and the upperend of the worm shaft 27, is formed integral with the bushin 22. Due tothis construction, when the wedge 33 is removed from between the bearing32'and the flanges 31, and the bear ing 32 removed, the shaft 27 can beswung away from the rolls, as indicated in chain lines 'in Fi re 5. Whenthe. shaft 27 is in this position, the worm 29 can-be removed therefromfor cleaning, merely by striking the same a blow with a hammer,whereupon the worm will slide from the lower end 28 of the shaft.Then,'to remove the rolls 11 and 12 and their bearings from the housings9 and 10, all that is necessary is to swingthe weighted levers 17 out ofengage-- ment with the rods 16, raise or remove the latter, insert a barunder the upper bearings 13 and raise them until they clear the upper*roll 11, whereupon they can he pushed inwardly to disengage them fromthe housings, then remove the upper roll 11 throu h the window in thehousing 10, then lift t e lower roll 12 to clear the bearings 14 andremove it through the window in the housing 10, and finally remove thebearings 14 from the housings, Thus it will be seen thatI have providedmeans for driving the intermediate or bottom rolls 11 and 12 whichgreatly facilitates removalof the rolls and their bearings, and alsoremoval of the worm 29. 5

the lower half of the housing 36 for the a 50 and 51.

' eeaaeo flux box, but with this arrangement, the molten material in theflux box splashes up on the rolls and causes their surfaces to becomerough and pitted, so that the sheets passing between the rolls aredamaged. To avoid this difficulty, I mount the intake rolls 38 and 39 ata considerable distance in front of, as well as above, the flux box 37and provide guiding means 40 between the rolls and box. With thisarrangement, danger of the flux s lashing up over the rolls ispractically ellminated.

At the opposite end of the frame 4 are located the exit rolls 41 and 42and the large roll 48, the latter being journaled in open bearings 44.Arranged in the pot 3 and supported by the frame 4 are the usual guides45, and suspended in front of'the exit rolls is a plate 46 forprotecting these roll}? from the dross floating on top of the bat Themeans for driving the exit rolls is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8,and comprises a driven shaft 47 extending through the side beam 5 andjournaled in suitable bearings. Fixed to the inner end of the shaft 47is a gear 48 meshing with a gear 49 journaled in the frame 4, and with agear 50 on the exit roll 41. The gear 49 meshes with a gear 51 on theexit roll 42. It will be noted, by reference to Figure 6, that the gears50 and 51 are in different parallel vertical planes, and that the gears.48 and 49 are considerably wider than the gears It will be evident thatthis arrangement permits the rolls 41 and 42 to move towards each other,as their diameters become less, until the reduced end 52 of the roll 42comes in contact with the gear 50 on the roll 41. The relative positionsof the gears when the rolls 41, and 42 are new are illustrated in Figure7, and-their relative positions after the rolls have become reduced indiameter are illustrated in Figure .8. For urging the rolls 41 and 42relativelg towards each other, the usual weighte levers 53 are provided,these levers being pivoted intermediate; their ends to the frame at 54and bearing at one end against the bearing portions 55 of roll 42. Theadvantages of the gearing arrangement described over the usualarrangement in which the exit rolls are geared directly together, willbe apparent, as the described arrangement obviates the necessity forchanging the gears on the rolls during their useful life.

The means for driving the various sets of rolls is illustrated inFigures 9, 10 and 11, and comprises a motor 56 which drives a worm shaft57 through suitable changespeed gearings 58 and 59 arranged in thehousing 60. The worm shaft 57 carries worms 61, 62 and 63, which engageworm gears 64, 65 and 66 on shafts 67, 68 and 69.

The shaft67 has secured to an end thereof a. sleeve 70 having a bore 71of non-circular cross section, and secured therein by means of a setscrew 72 is the end of a bar 73, also of non-circular cross section. Journaled on the end of the shaft of the intake roll 39 is aclutch member74 having a bore of non-circular cross section receiving the oppositeend of the bar 73. Slidably mounted upon the shaft 75 for rotationtherewith and for cooperation with the clutch member 74 is a clutchmember 76. Extending throughthe hollow tie rod 7 is a rod 77 operativelyconnected at one end to the clutch member 76 and at its other end to anoperating lever 78. The shaft 75 is arranged to drive the usual wringerrolls 79 and 80 through the sprocket Wheels 81 and 82 on shaft 75 andshaft'83 of roll 80 and the connecting sprocket chain 84.

The described driving connection between the shafts 67 and 75 providesmeans where by a Workman, standing at the opposite side of thesupporting frame 4 from the driving means, can instantly renderinopera-' tive the driving connection between the shaft 75 and bar 73,and thereby stop rotation of the intake and wringer rolls. It is ofgreat advantage to be able to do this when a sheet becomes stuck inpassing through the machine, as has already been pointed out.

The shaft 68 is operatively connected to the shaft 24 by means of asleeve 85 and bar 86, these parts corresponding to the parts 70 and 73.One end of the bar 86 is secured in the bore 71 of sleeve .85 by a setscrew 72, and the other end engages in a bore of non-circular crosssection in the end of the shaft 24, but is not secured therein.

The shaft 69 drives a shaft 87 through speed-change gearing arranged inthe housing 88. This speed-change gearing comprises a plurality of gears89 of different sizes mounted on the shaft 87 and a gear 90 on shaft 69meshing with a gear 91 journaled in a supporting member 92. Thesupporting member 92 is bifurcated to straddle the gears 90 and 91 andis journaled at one end upon the shaft 69. At its' other end thesupporting member 92 carries a spring-actuated pin 93 adapted to engageany one of a plurality of holes 94 in the housing 88 to hold the gear 91in mesh with the desired one of the gears 89.

The shaft 87 has secured thereto a sleeve 95 and a bar 96, similar tothe bars 73 and 86, operatively connects the sleeve 95 with shaft 47said bar 96 being secured at one end in the bore 71 of sleeve 95 by aset screw 72, and having its other end projecting into a bore ofnon-circular cross section in the end of shaft 47, but not secured therein. The shaft 97 of roll 43 is driven through sprockets 98 and 99 onshafts 47 and 97 and sprocket chain 100.

56 and shafts 67, 68 and 87, is mounted upon a stationary base spacedfrom the supporting frame 4. The bars 7 3, 86 and'96 consti-' tute areadily detachable driving connection between the driving means and therolls. It will be seen that the bar 7 3 can be disconnected from theshaft 7 5 merely by loosening the set screw 72 and moving the bar 73longitudinally away from the supporting frame. In like manner, the bar86 can be disconnected from the shaft 24 and the bar 96 from the shaft47. By reason of the fact that the bars 73 86 and 96 are secured only attheir ends remote from the frame 4, these bars can be manipulated attheir cooler portions for disonnecting the driving means from therolls,'and this is obviously an advantageous feature. The particularadvantage, however, of this construction and arrangement of the drivingmeans and driving connections between the driving means and rolls,arises from the fact that it obviates the necessity for backing thedriving means away from the supporting frame in order to disconnect thedriving means from the rolls, it only being necessary to move the 'bars73, 86 and 96 for this purpose.

I claim:

I 1. In a coating machine, a roll, stationary driving means spaced-fromsaid roll, and an elongated member operatively connected at one end tosaid driving means and at its other end to said roll, said member beingadapted to be moved longitudinally to dis? connect it from said roll,substantially as described.

2. In a coating machine, a supporting frame, a plurality of rollsjournaled therein, stationary drivingmeans spaced from said frame, andan elongated member operatively connecting each of said rolls with saiddrivving means, said members being movable side of said frame forrendering said drivlongitudinally to disconnect them from said rolls,substantially as described.

l 3. In a coating machine, a plurality of sets of rolls,.drivin means,means operatively connecting said driving means with each set of rolls,and a clutch in the driving connection between said driving meansand oneset of rolls whereby to render said drivingconnection inoperative atwill, substantially as described.

4. In a coating machine, a supporting frame, a roll journaled in saidframe, driving means onone side of said frame, a driving connectionbetween said roll and driving means, and means operable from the othering connection inoperative, substantially as described.

5. In a coating machine, a" supporting frame, a roll journaled in saidframe, stationary driving means spaced from said frame, an elongatedmember operatively con- 1,4aaaco necting said driving means with saidroll and adapted to be moved longitudinally away from said frame fordisconnecting it from said roll, and releasable means engaging the endof said member connectedto said driving means for normally preventinglongitudinal movement thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a coating machine, a roll, stationary driving'means spaced fromsaid roll and ineluding a shaft, a sleeve mounted on said shaft, a shaftfor rotating said roll, a sleeve- 7. In a coating machine, a roll,stationary driving means spaced from said roll, a shaft fer operatingsaid roll, an elongated member operatively connected at one end to saidshaft and at its other end to. said driving means, said member beinadapted to be moved longitudinally to disconnect it from said shaft, aclutch in the connection between said member and shaft, and means foroperating said clutch, substantially as described.

8. In a coating machine, a supporting frame, a plurality of rollsjournaled therein, stationary driving means spaced from said frame, anddriving connections between said driving means and rolls bodily movablein the direction of said driving means for disconnecting said drivingmeans from said rolls, substantially as described.

v9. In a coating machine, supporting means, a roll journaled therein,stationary driving means spaced from one side of said supporting means,a shaft for rotating said roll, an elongated member operativelyconnected at one end to said shaft and at its other end to said drivingmeans, said member being adapted to be movedlongitudinally to disconnectit from said shaft, a clutch in the connection between said member andshaft, and means operable from the side of said supporting meansopposite from said driving means for operating said clutch,substantially as described.

10. In a coating machine, a pair of exit rolls, a gear fixed to one endof one of said rolls, a gear fixed to the corresponding end of the otherroll but arranged out of the plane of said first gear, a shaft parallelto roll, and means for driving said shaft, substantially as described.

11. In a coating machine, a pair of exit rolls, a gear fixed'to an endof one of said rolls, a gear fixed to the corresponding end of the otherof said rolls but arranged out of the plane of the first gear, and meansfor driving said gears, substantially as -de-' scribed.

12. In a coating machine, a pair of exit rolls, one of said rolls havinga reduced end, a gear fixed on said reduced end, the other of said rollshaving a reduced end extending beyond the reduced end of the first rolland having a gear fixed thereon but arranged out of the plane of thefirst ear, and means for driving said gears, su stantially as describe13. In a coating machine, supporting means, a roll journaled therein, ashaft, means for driving said shaft, a driving connection between 'saidshaft and said roll, a bearing for said shaft arranged to permit saidshaft to be swung about an axis, and releasable means for normallyholding said shaft in position. to maintain said driving connectionbetween said shaft and roll, whereby said shaft may be swung about saidaxis to disconnect said driving connection when released from saidholding means, substantially as described.

14. In a coating machine, supporting means, a roll ,journaled therein, ashaft having a reduced end portion, means'for driving said shaft, a gearfixed to an end ofsaid roll, a gear slidably mounted on said reduced endof said shaft, a bearing for said shaft arranged to ermit said shaft tobe swung about an axis, and releasable means the gear on said rolland'to permit said gear on said shaft to slide off 'of said reduced end,substantially as described.

15. 'In a coating machine, a supporting.

frame," a roll journaled therein and having a gear fixed to one endthereof, a shaft having a gear on one end thereof adapted to operativelyengage the gear on said roll, a second shaftjournaled in said frame andhaving its axisat right angles to saidfirst shaft, a

ear on one end of said second shaftmeshing with 'a gear on the other endof said first shaft, a bearing for said first shaft arranged to permitthe same to be swung about said second shaft as an axis, and releasablemeans for normally holding said first shaft in position to maintain thegear connection between the same and said roll, whereby said' firstshaft may be swung about said axis 'to release said gear connectionbetween the same and said roll when released from said holding means,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' HARLEY D. PENNINGTON.

